Spray nozzle



June 9, 1953 c, os'r 2,641,509

SPRAY NOZZLE Filed April 27, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 9, 1953 I c. E. YOST I 7 2,641,509

SPRAY NOZZLE Filed April 27, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 woe/Mm Patented June 9, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Clyde E. Yost, Evansville, Ind. Application April 27, 1948, SerialNo. 23,462

The present invention relates to spray nozzles such as are used for spraying liquid insecticides, liquid weed exterminators, and liquid fertilizer upon growing plants, ground prepared for planting, and like uses, and the invention aims generally to improve and simplify spray nozzles of that type.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of an improved spray nozzle that will deliver a flat fan-shaped mist or atomized spray of substantially uniform density and of relatively wide spread, for example of approximately eighty degrees spread, to the end that plants and ground may be effectively and economically treated.

A further object of the invention is the improvement and simplification of spray nozzle construction to provide a nozzle that can be economically manufactured and readily disassembled for cleaning and replacement of parts.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a spray nozzle having a readily replaceable nozzle tip adapted to produce a flat fan-shaped atomized spray or mist of predetermined pattern and liquid capacity.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a spray nozzle having a replaceable nozzle tip of novel construction adapted to be economically manufactured.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a spray nozzle having an improved strainer assembly associated therewith.

The above and other objects of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled inthe art from a consideration of the accompanying drawings and annexed specification illustrating and describing two preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of a spray rig having a plurality of spray nozzles embodying the invention connected therewith;

Fig. 2 is an edge elevation of the rig and nozzle shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a spray nozzle according to one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the nozzle shown in Fig. 1:

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a spray nozzle according to a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view as taken On the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the strainer screen for the nozzle of Fig. 5;

5 Claims. (01. 299-154) fluid between the nozzle flange l9 Fig. 8 is a greatly enlarged sectional view of the discharge orifice of the nozzle tip taken .on the line 88 of Fig. 4; q

Fig. 9 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the discharge orifice as taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged transverse section of the discharge orifice as taken on the line Hll0 of Fig.8. 1 i

Referring to the drawings, the improved spray nozzle comprises a body [0 provided with a coaxial spray passage ll therethrough and having a threaded stem I2 atone end for attachment to a supply pipe 5 of suitable type. The opposite end of thebody l0 may be threaded as at I3 to receive the nozzle tip retainer cap [4 having a threaded bore l5 and an inwardly extending retaining flange I 6 at one end. The cap I4 is threaded on the threaded portion I? of the nozzle tip of the body, thus permitting interchangeability of the nozzle tip for a 'desired :apacity of spray, simply by removing the cap I The nozzle tip is preferably formed of a cy lindrical body portion [8 having an annular flange l9, preferably intermediate its ends adapted t bear against the end of the body In and be engaged by the inwardly extending flange l6 of the cap I I which holds the tip in assembled relation with the body Ill. The tip is provided with an axial fluid passage 20 and an elongated restricted discharge orifice 2| of unique shape and design to provide a flat wide spread fan-shaped atomized spray as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The nozzle tip preferably has an associated strainer or screen member to screen, and initially diffuse the fluid passing from the fluid passage ll of the body H] to the fluid passage 20 of the tip. The screen member 25 may consist of .a cylinder of suitable wire screen, for example of or 200 mesh, and may have an outwardly turnedflanged rim 26 at one endadapted to overlie the end of the body In andbe clamped thereon by the flange 19 of the nozzle tip l8 when the latter is assembled with the body ID by means of the cap I4, as shown in'Fig. 3. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 5, the flange 26 may be omitted and a gasket .ring 21 (Fig. 5) of compressible packing material may snugly fit and surround one end of the screen and serve as a flange for securing that end of the screen in. the body and form a seal against leakage of m and the body The screen or strainer 25 may be assembled with the nozzle tip l8 by means of a central stem 39 having a head 3! fitted within and closing an open end 28 of the screen 25 and an opposite threaded end 32 threaded into the fluid passage 20 of the nozzle tip l8. The body of the stem is provided with a plurality of peripherally open grooves 33 extending from the threaded end 32 longitudinally toward and terminating short of the head 31. The radial depth of the grooves is greater than the depth of the screw threads at the end 32 so as to permit the passage of screened fluid from between the screen and stem, rearwardly of the tip [8 to the fluid passage 20 forwardly of the stem 30. Preferably, the body of the stem 30 may be ribbed or fluted as by a helical thread 34 (see Fig. 5) to provide a support for the flne wire screen throughout a substantial distance between the nozzle tip l8 and steam head 31 The .nozzle tip 18 is provided with a discharge orifice 2| of novel designto produce an atomized fanshaped spray of predetermined liquid capacity. For example, in weed extermination it is desirable to supply a liquid weed exterminatcr in a spray of uniform density and .predetermined volume :under controlled conditions, such as pressure, under which the ;liquid is projected at a prescribed rate of travel of the spray relative to the turf. For certain types of weeds it is neces ary to supply a reater volume of spray and hence it is desirable that the nozzle til be r ad ly replaceable in the body-ill.

According to the present invention the discharge orifice ;2l :comprises a :passage portion formed by a cylindrical bore 40 preferably coaxial with and smaller than the passage 20 of the tip 18 and a joining tapered "or substantially semi -spherical passage end portion .31, as produced for example by .a ball nosed cutter. Preferably the cutter is of slightly greater depth than diameter so as to produce .a tapered passage end portion of decreasing cross-sectional area and having semi-elliptical side walls 351a which taper outwardly in the direction of flow .Of fluid.

According to the present invention the discharge orifice 24 also includes a transverse discharge slot 36. Such slot has inwardly tapering opposing :fiat walls 3.5 which extend inwardly from the outer :flat surface 4.! of the tip :body and intersect tapering or curved walls 310, to produce an irregular elliptical opening {having its major at the line of intersection constituting edge .38 and minor ax sin different places and having a minor .or terminal diameter .38 substantially less than the maximum width of the slot 36. Slot Walls intersect the outer flat surface 4| in parallel opposing straight edges 42. Slo walls. 35 increase in thickness in the direction of .the outer surface A] from the center outwardly transversely to their opposite ends 39.

The internal cylindrical bore 4.!) of the tip [.8 is preferably coaxial with the passage 26, which bore terminates short of the outer end of the tip body 18 "and substantially in the transverse plane of the bottom of the slot 36 opposite ends 39. This is important 'in the provision of the desired uniform spray as heavier concentrations at the edges of the spray result when the slot ends '39 of the slot 36 extends inwardly beyond the outer end of the cylindrical bore 40.

4 The transverse slot 36 is preferably formed by a cutter having tapered sides to produce predetermined tapered walls of an acute angled v-shaped slot extending inwardly of the tip body l8 to approximately the plane of merger of the inner end of passage end portion 3! and the bore 40, as indicated by the line 99 of Fig. 8. The inclination of the walls 35 of the slot 36 will preferably be from 10 to 22% degrees with reference to the longitudinal axis of the tip as indicated by the line IU-I0 of Fig. '8, and must be less than 45 degrees to produce a satisfactory spray pattern. Stated another way, the included angle between the tapered walls 35 will vary from 20 to 45 degrees. The included angle of inclination of the walls 35 will be greater, within the limits of 20 to 45 degrees, as the predetermined capacity of the nozzle is greater.

The walls 37a of the semi-spherical or semielliptical passage portion 31 of the orifice 2i taper from the plane of the inner edge 39 of the slot 36 'to intersect the slot 36 intermediate the inner and outer edges thereof, so that the minor or terminal diameter 38 thereof is disposed in a plane spaced outwardly of the major diameter thereof which :is disposed in the plane of the ends 39 of the slot 35. The tapered walls 31a may be produced by a tapered cutter or by a less than spherical ball nose cutter, having a diameter less than its-depth, so that the angle of inclination of the tapered walls 31a, as measured by the chord of an arcuate face, will be greater than 45 degrees with reference to the transverse plane at the bottom of the slo throu h the slot ends 39 of the slot, as illustrated in Fig. -.8. The angle of inclination of the chord of the arcuate face of the walls 31141 with :the transverse plane intersecting the slot ends 39 will vary between approximately .50 and 65 degrees according to the predetermined capacity of the nozzle tip.

The discharge orifice .21, formed as just described, produces a thin, substantially flat, fanshaped spray of substantially uniform density. A predetermined capacity of discharge may readily be determined by the angle of inclination of the walls 35 and the chordal inclination of the tapered walls 31a, of the bore All. Variat'iuns in these two factors within the limits above stated permit the production of replaceable nozzle tips of various capacities ranging'from 5 to gallons per hour with a liquid pressure of from 25 to 3.5 lbs. per sq. in.

For the production -of most satisfactory results it is important that the slot bottom defined by the Opposite ends 39 of the .-slot 36 does not extend inwardly beyond the .end of the full nozzle shape or the .inner end of the tapering passage end portion 31. If the bottom of the slot 36 extends inwardly beyond the inner terminal end of the tapered passage .portion .31, .a noneuniform spray is produced with heavier streams concentrated at the :ends of the fan-shaped spray.

From the above it will .be seen that the improved spray nozzle is of simple construction and can be economically manufactured at small cost. The nozzle tip and screen may readily be removed for replacement and cleaning simply by removal of the cap I4 without removal of the entire nozzle body. The novel shape of the discharge orifice can be economically produced and controlled to supply replaceable nozzle tips of various predetermined capacities.

Although I have illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the details illustrated and described, as the scope of the invention is best defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A spray nozzle comprising a body having a fluid passage portion formed in said body below the outer surface of said body, said passage portion having passage walls which taper outwardly with concave curvature towards said body outer surface and in the direction of flow of fluid through said passage portion, said body being formed with a transverse fluid discharge slot extending inwardly from said body outer surface and terminating in ends located on the opposite sides of said passage portion, said slot having opposing flat Walls intersecting said body outer surface in opposing lines of intersection, said opposing Walls tapering inwardly towards the direction of flow through said passage portion and intersecting said concave passage walls along a line of intersection which defines an elliptical opening, and the surfaces of said opposing walls of said slot between said outer surface of said body and said concave passage walls increasing in depth from the center of the slot to said ends of the slot.

2. A spray nozzle comprising a body having a substantially flat outer surface and a fluid passage portion of circular cross-section formed in said body below said body outer surface, said passage portion having passage walls which taper outwardly with concave curvature in the direction of flow of fluid through said passage portion, said body being formed with a transverse fluid discharge slot extending inwardly from said body outer surface and terminating in ends located on opposite sides of said passage portion, said slots having opposing flat walls intersecting said body outer surface in opposing parallel straight lines of intersection, said opposing walls tapering inwardly towards the flow of fluid through said passage portion and intersecting said concave passage walls along a line of intersection which defines an elliptical opening.

3. A spray nozzle comprising a body having a substantially flat outer surface and a fluid passage portion formed in said body below said body outer surface, said passage portion having passage walls which taper outwardly with concave curvature in the direction of flow of fluid through said passage portion, said body being formed with a transverse fluid discharge slot extending inwardly from said body outer surface and terminating in ends located on opposite sides of said passage portion, said slot having opposing flat walls intersecting said body outer surface in opposing parallel straight lines of intersection, said opposing walls tapering inwardly towards the flow of fluid through said passage portion and intersecting said concave passage walls along a line of intersection which defines anelliptical opening, said opposing walls being disposed at an angle of not less than 10 degrees nor more than 22 1 to the longitudinal axis of said passage portion.

4. A spray nozzle comprising a body having a substantially flat outer surface, a passage portion of circular cross-section formed in said body below said body outer surface, said passage portion having passage walls of elliptical curvature which taper in the direction of flow of fluid through said passage portion, said body being formed with a transverse slot extending inwardly from said body outer surface and terminating in ends located on opposite sides of said passage portion, said slot having opposing flat walls intersecting said body outer surface in opposing straight parallel lines of intersection, said opposing walls tapering inwardly towards the flow of fluid through said passage portion and intersecting said concave passage walls along a line of intersection which defines an elliptical opening.

5. A spray nozzle comprising a body having a substantially flat outer surface, a passage portion formed in said body below said body outer surface, said passage portion having passage walls of elliptical curvature which taper in the direction of flow of fluid through said passage portion, said body being formed with a transverse slot extending inwardly from said body outer surface and terminating in ends located on opposite sides of said passage portion, said slot having opposing flat walls intersecting said body outer surface in opposing straight parallel lines of intersection, said opposing walls tapering inwardly towards the flow of fluid through said passage portion and intersecting said concave passage walls along a line of intersection which deflnes an elliptical opening, said opposing walls being disposed at an angle of not less than 10 degrees nor more than 22 to the longitudinal axis of said passage portion, and said tapering passage walls of elliptical curvature being disposed at an angle of not less than 50 degrees nor more than degrees to a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said passage portion.

CLYDE E. YOST.

References Cited in the flle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 263,182 Jones Aug. 22, 1882 871,029 Buelna et a1. Nov. 12, 1907 1,753,443 Murray Apr. 8, 1930 2,126,440 Apthorp Aug. 9, 1938 2,181,186 Jackson NOV. 28, 1939 2,284,443 Paradise May 26, 1942 2,522,928 Carroll Sept. 19, 1950 

